Happily, an answer!

[LBTC]

Well, don't know if any of you remember that I've been off my bike with strange abdominal discomfort for at least of couple of months now.

This week I had a CT scan and the doc has already seen me to discuss the results (I think that's very quick and am really pleased). The scan showed no stones, but a thickening of the wall of my gallbladder, so the next test is the scan with the dye to see how things move through liver and gallbladder and along the rest of the way. I'll be waiting for the call....

Doc's word today "I see you having your gallbladder removed". It's not a for sure, but it seems pretty probable.

I'm pleased that the test has finally found something. I hate feeling yucky and not knowing why. I'm also hopeful that surgery is a good solution. I will do some reading on it, but, frankly, the alternatives that have been suggested (dairy allergy, wheat allergy, the big c word), are much more frightening to me than surgery!!

So I'm back to waiting, but pleased to know that progress has been made.

Oh, and I've had a pretty good week - I managed to lift some weights two nights in a row, without feeling completely worn out from it. It's almost time to try a bike ride again....

yay!

If any of you have gallbladder stories, bring them on. The more I know about it, the better!

Thanks one and all!

Namaste,
~T~

[Bikingmomof3]

I know how nice it is to have a diagnosis, rather then wondering.

I had my gallbladder removed in 1996. Prior to it's removal I was in dreadful pain. My recovery was about a week.

Keep us updated.

[pooks]

Good luck with that. It's horrid feeling awful and not knowing why. I'm glad they seem to have found the answer.

[chickwhorips]

glad they found an answer. keep your chin up.

[LBTC]

Has anyone had a HIDA scan? That's my next test. Depending on what I read, it could take anywhere from 1 1/2 hours to several hours, and a few return trips for more pictures within 24 hours....

I'm seeing my doc again tomorrow with questions, but still would like to know your experiences.

Thanks so much!

Everyone be well,
~T~

[Xrayted]

Haven't had one, but as I understand from a Nuc. Med. friend I just IM'd, (gotta love Dan, he's always on the net :cool: ) it should take about 2 hours (+/-) depending on the speed/function of your gallbladder. They put an IV in your arm and inject what they call a tracer drug. This is a drug that has an affinity to the specific anatomy they are checking, i.e. some are attracted to lungs, others to liver... It's actually a radioactive isotope that they can pick up on their machine. VERY short 1/2 life so, long term, it's relatively harmless. The NM beds aren't too bad. I've played patient to the students (w/o injection) and almost fell asleep one time.

Good luck and I hope you get good news.

cindy

[LBTC]

Thanks, Cindy

I'll keep everyone posted. Up here in BC with universal health care, the waits can sometimes be a long time. When I've had the test I'll fill ya in on the details...

Here's hoping the beds here are comfy, too!

Namaste,
~T~

[DDH]

It is better to know what is going on than it is to be in the dark and wondering. Keep us updated on what they are going to do.

[pooks]

Can you take your own music or an audiobook for them to play for you? It might help pass the time!

Good luck!

[velogirl]

I had my gallbladder removed in 1998 after three years of pain, pain, pain. Over the years I was told I had panic disorder, acid reflux, hepatitis, and was even mis-diagnosed as possibly having had a heart attack. At the time I was only 30 years old!!! Apparently I had a severe accumulation of gall stones (calcium deposits). Interestingly enough, there appears to be a correlation between taking oral birth control and calcium stones. Bummer.

The surgery itself was super-easy, didn't require a stay overnight and I was back to being active in just a few days. I had laproscopic surgery (which is the norm these days) so two tiny little scars, but they did put my belly button back together wrong.

I had a test pre-surgery that was just terrible (it wasn't the HIDA scan). You have to swallow a fiberoptic video camera, and you need to be awake to do it. They give you a drug (sodium pentathol?) so you don't remember the procedure, but I do have vague memories of screaming. Glad you won't have that test. Maybe they don't do it anymore.

[Rebeccah]

I had a test pre-surgery that was just terrible (it wasn't the HIDA scan). You have to swallow a fiberoptic video camera, and you need to be awake to do it. They give you a drug (sodium pentathol?) so you don't remember the procedure, but I do have vague memories of screaming. Glad you won't have that test. Maybe they don't do it anymore.

Sounds like an EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy). It wouldn't be routine for working up the gallbladder, but if it took them three years to diagnose you then they were ruling out a bunch of other GI diseases, such as acid reflux causing erosions of the esophagus or pre-cancerous changes, cancer, peptic ulcer disease, etc. etc. etc. If they went as far as the duodenum, they could see the common bile duct where it empties into your small intestine, too.

They do still do it, but like I say, it's not routine for gall bladder disease. And it's no fun, but I don't remember anyone screaming (I assisted with some when I was a surgical intern).

Rebeccah

[mary9761]

I don't remember if the test I had in 1983 was the same but it did involve injection of isotopes and a couple hours worth of photos being taken. In my case they weren't finding anything to cause my incredible pain. There were no stones or apparent causes. After the test was done they saw something that gave them reason to go ahead and remove the gall bladder. They still weren't exactly sure what it was, but it was done. When I went in for my post op exam with the surgeon who originally didn't want to do any surgery (my mom had her gall bladder out at a relatively young age and I was only in my early 20's) I asked him, "so, did it need to come out after all?" He said there was a cholesterol build up on the OUTSIDE of the gall bladder and it would have never shown on an xray. It was an odd thing. The only thing I can think of that might have done it, if there was any chance of the damage being from an INJURY to the gall bladder, my ex had punched me in the stomach a few months earlier (didn't report it right away and wasn't seen in hospital) and I had a bruise on that part of my stomach.
Anyways, at least these days they can remove the gall bladder laparoscopically. I have an incision scar that is close to a foot long or more where they had to open my abdomen. Even if I finish losing my weight, I'll never wear a 2 piece bathing suit due to this hideous thing. Recovery time is MUCH quicker with the newer surgery. I was in the hospital for several days and had a recovery of 6-8 weeks or so. :(
Good luck

[Xrayted]

LBTC- If they just want to go down and check things out, they can do an ERCP. I do xray for ERCP's (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) where they pass a camera scope down through the esophagus, stomach, duodenum and into the biliary tree. We inject a radiopaque dye that can be seen with xray to check patency/obstruction of the ducts and gallbladder. They can also go in while they are there and remove stones if they see them. They do this when it's not necessary to remove the GB, just unblock it. As for removal, like Velogirl said, laproscopic is the way to go.
Velogirl - If you remember screaming during it, then they were doing something extremely wrong. :eek: A slight gag reflex when the scope enters is all you should have felt. The fact that it took them 3 years to figure it out is so disturbing to me as well.
Mary - life is short, wear the bikini anyway! :D

[velogirl]

OMG! I have such terrible memories of that test. First, my doc went out for a smoke right beforehand and he stunk. Then, right before he put me out he said he might need to do surgery that day (depending on what they found) and I got all crazy because I couldn't miss anymore work. I think I remember screaming but it might've just been a vivid dream or reaction to all the stress. Luckily, I don't remember any pain.

Not sure why it took 3 years. Probably because the attacks were isolated and sometimes many months in between. Post-surgery, the doc explained that the pain was caused when a stone would block the common bile duct. Oh, and I moved across the country in the middle of all this. And had PHP in NY and Kaiser in CA......

[RoadRaven]

Hey there LB, I don't have a gallbladder story but just wanted to say how wrapped I am for you now that you have an answer, a reason, a 'label' for what has been ailing you.

Now you can move on a path to get you 100% again

WOOHOO!!!! on the weights - looking forward to hearing about you getting back on a bike too :)

My thoughts are with you

[LBTC]

Thank you, ladies for your stories, understanding, support and ideas!

I saw my doc this week and he didn't have a lot of answers, as he is not the surgeon. He says he'll likely recommend surgery regardless of what the HIDA scan reveals, but it will give the surgeon more information so it is worth it. I'm still waiting for the call to book that appointment, so, the other thing my doc said was I'm likely not going to have surgery until after Christmas. darn.

So I've looked online and found some pretty good information. Diet, of course, is linked with how stressed the gallbladder can be, so I went looking for what are good things to eat....they include whole grains, vegetables, EFAs , olive oil, nuts and alcohol! yippy! I'm going to try the Sleemans solution! :D

Seriously, I was feeling pretty uncomfortable after the walk home (2.5km), so I had a glass of wine, and honestly things felt better! So I did weights (yay me!). I sure am sucking in the cardio department, having to rest between sets which I never used to do. But it feels good to use muscles, and I know it's good for me, so I did it! The toughest exercises are those that involve the core, which is what I really want to work the hardest because that's what is bloated! :eek: but....I know that I may suffer for a few days if I go to hard, so I think I stopped soon enough!

Thank you for giving me a place to vent the frustrations of this silly condition. It feels almost fake and in my head sometimes, because the pain is not acute....but the constant nausea and the fatigue do get to me and I know I"m not making it up. It was easier, in that respect though, to recover from the broken shoulder years ago.

Anyway, with your ears and shoulders and encouragement, I know I'll get through this just fine, so THANKYOU!!!

If I do well this weekend, I'll put my bike on the trainer and try some light spinning.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving, everyone! Enjoy the ride!
~T~

[LBTC]

The HIDA scan is 7:15 am on Friday the 13th! Only 4 hours of fasting before hand, and they said to expect 1 1/2 hours of test. whew

That much closer! YAY!

~T~